In my childhood, I spent many hours looking at the sky, studying clouds. I still love looking at the sky, but these days usually have a camera handy.
The sky is often the most interesting and dramatic before, or after a storm. This one was taken just after an October storm. The sky took on an amazing hue; there was a rainbow over to my left. And the clouds kind of blew my mind. I looked up the variety, and they seem to be stratocumulus–low, lumpy layers of clouds. They look more like sheep’s wool than any other clouds I have seen.
When taking photos I look for good light, and try to get an interesting moment, if possible. But there is also a matter of composition–how to divide the space. There are no hard and fast rules, but I often attempt to divide the frame into three or more sections. I first saw this in the photographs of Tony Ray-Jones and Lee Friedlander. There was a lot going on in the frame–a kind of unified complexity.
This photo was taken in Montreal in 1983. My friend Stephane is on the right and we were off to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. I’m glad I got this Kodachrome moment.
This photo was taken at the corner of Church and Shuter in 2018. It reminds me of the Pretenders song: I went back to Toronto, but my city was gone. Well, not really gone, just replaced by bigger and better things.
I got started in photography at Acadia University in 1977 by joining the photography club, and taking photos for the school paper–The Athenaeum. I learned how to develop and print black and white film, and take photos in a journalistic style. It gave me a reason get out and take the best possible photos, for it was an honour to have a photo in the newspaper. This documentary style of photography has stayed with me over the years. Timing is very important, and also, where to stand.
The photo is of a game between The Acadia Axemen and the UNB Red Bombers at Raymond Field in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. I tried to borrow a telephoto lens to shoot the game, but had no luck and had to make do with my 50mm lens. This meant that I couldn’t get any closeups of the action, and had to settle for wider shots. Sometimes you just have to make do.
Holiday Decorations Make Great Photos (Day 31 of 31)
Happy Halloween! It’s the last day of October. I’ve really enjoyed connecting with people this month during the 31 Days writing challenge. It’s been rewarding to participate in this project. I always find that I learn so much just by doing; I’m sure that’s true for you, as well.
Wrapping up this month on Halloween leads me to suggest documenting how your family participates in days like this one; get some close-ups of your candy dish, for example, or your decorated windows. If you have children in your life—kids of your own, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or your neighbours’ and friends’ kids—you’ll enjoy getting a few shots that show their moods. Keep in mind that those aren’t always joy and delight; we can get great shots on holidays show kids while they’re bored, crabby, arguing, or whatever. Even if you’re too worn-out to enjoy those pictures now, in five or ten years you’re likely to treasure them.
Finally, I find it helpful to remember what a fleeting season fall is (at least in eastern Canada, where I live). As they say: Winter is coming. Taking pictures can be overdone, and I’m as guilty of that as anyone. It’s far too easy to get so caught up in capturing the shot that you sort of miss the moment.
But the flip side of that is true, as well; taking photos can be a great tool for staying engaged with the moment, for connecting to the joy that abounds in the simplest and most everyday acts. They surround us every day, and we have to remind ourselves, again and again, to open our eyes.
(For the month of October 2017, I have participated in the 31 Days bloggers’ challenge. You can find out about it here, and check out the interesting work other bloggers have posted.)
